AMERICA, IT IS TIME TO TALK ABOUT REPARATIONS

#perspective

If reparations are the right path for America, how do we get there? Join the ACLU for a tough but necessary conversation about racial justice.

Reparations refer to measures taken by a state to address historical injustices, particularly gross and systematic violations of human rights or humanitarian law. These measures aim to compensate victims for past wrongs. In the context of the United States, reparations specifically relate to addressing the legacy of slavery and discrimination against African Americans.

Vice President Kamala Harris has expressed support for reparations for Black people. She acknowledges the more than 200 years of slavery, nearly 100 years of Jim Crow laws, and ongoing racial disparities. While the specifics of reparations are still open for discussion, Harris believes there should be some form of redress.

This could include addressing untreated trauma and exploring financial relief for affected communities.

Reparations have historical precedents, such as the levies imposed on the Central Powers after World War I to compensate the Allies for war costs2. In modern contexts, they play a crucial role in transitional justice, seeking to rectify past injustices through compensation or restitution.